https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy OPTIONS: (1) Type out/continue what you started in your journal "first thoughts." (2) Respond to a Get Out handout question--and add Coagula procedure as an option to the Sunken Place question. (3) Discuss the end (what is it resolving/does it "satisfy"/why/not?--in plot terms and maybe even in allegorical terms). THEN, respond or add to someone else's post/be in dialogue with a classmate. DON'T feel pressure to over-write. A few concrete sentences will be fine. en-us 2022-11-28 23:01:06 UTC 2022-11-30 03:10:36 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/2615.png https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401028153 I think that the ending is satisfying if we are narrowing our vision to just Chris's narrative and his personal journey throughout the film. He was able to ultimately escape the house, and has a good chance of being able to get some semblance of his normal life back (considering his best friend rescued him and the people he killed already strayed pretty far from the legal radar anyway). However, justice was not necessarily served for all of the characters who had their autonomy taken away by the Armitage family before Chris's arrival. When Rod was trying to explain the situation to the police before he saved Chris, they didn't believe a single word that came out of his mouth. It can't be said for certain, obviously, but chances are they wouldn't believe him after the end of the movie either. All of those people and their stories, struggles, and senses of individuality will become lost to time, and for that reason, the ending is not completely satisfying, at least to me.]]> 2022-11-28 23:31:57 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401028153 23kime3 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401053513 Get Out is an incredibly complex film and there is so much to unpack from the cinematic elements to the plot itself. What struck me as soon as we finished watching was Jordan Peele's way of completely changing Chris' character + power dynamics at the end. From the start of the film, Chris is portrayed as a vulnerable character that is not completely sure of what is going on around him. Additionally, it is conveyed to the audience that the Armitages are hiding something from Chris which adds on to his lack of autonomy. On top of this, Rose is used as a tool to deceive Chris which prevents him from listening to his own suspicions from the beginning. However, when their plans are revealed to Chris, there is no longer anything to hold him back. Throughout the last 30 min of the film, Chris is in full fight or flight mode and we can see this clearly from how Daniel Kaluuya acts his character. Chris must have been in a state of trauma and pain but this doesn't stop him from escaping the house. In fact, his expression is quite empty as he kills and this makes me wonder if in that short amount of time at the Armitage's he's become desensitized. The scene where he smashes the teacup shows that his senses are heightened more than ever. It was chilling to see this stark character change and made me think about Chris' future. ]]> 2022-11-29 00:06:08 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401053513 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401053569 Responding to the questions surrounding race: One way that the Armitage family tries to convey to Chris that they aren't racist is in the beginning when the father gives Chris a tour of the house, pointing out the picture of Jesse Owens that they have framed on the wall. I think that the way that he goes out of his way to point the picture out to Chris is an act of racism itself because he's treating Chris differently due to his race. Also, if I recall correctly, the picture wasn't framed because of how great he thought Jesse Owens was, but rather because his father was a runner in the picture which goes to show that his intentions weren't to even celebrate African American success. He also mentions how he started to believe that African Americans were more genetically gifted compared to white people when it comes to their physical ability which is racist. The Armitage family also just targeted black individuals to brainwash them and auction them off to their family/friends, drawing parallels to the age of slavery. ]]> 2022-11-29 00:06:11 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401053569 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401219147 Throughout the film, there was always a sense that something was off. At first, it came with the interactions between Chris and the help around the house, Georgina and Walter. The way they interacted and treated them made things feel amiss. Then that was tied into learning about the mother, Missy, and how she is a psychiatrist who could also do hypnosis. The second this was brought up I knew that it would play a role in whatever events and situations happen in the house. In that first night just solidified the mysterious and creepy air to the house. After clearly being hypnotized, Walter charging at Chris during his nighttime run, and the way Georgina looked at herself in the window there was no ignoring the happenings of the house. This set up suspicion about Chris's phone being dead the next day. This lined up a path for him to be disconnected and trapped without any way to get help, and for Rod to be concerned. It also planted suspicion in Chris's head which helped him stay more alert and aware. ]]> 2022-11-29 02:38:57 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401219147 23matsumotoj https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401285352 The sunken place is a black, endless void where Chris and the other victims of the Armitage family are separated from their physical self. The first time we're introduced to the sunken place is horrifying, with the music becoming increasingly tense as Chris falls into this dark void, growing farther from the small screen which shows what his physical eyes are seeing. It’s almost as if Chris is watching his life play out in front of him, only he has no control over his own body. We only see the sunken place from Chris’s perspective, but it would be interesting to see the other victims' experiences in this state of mind. Because other minds are already transferred into the bodies of the black victims, does this mean that the victims have no “consciousness” in the sunken place? Or are they feeling helpless in this black void as they watch other people using their bodies? Overall, the sunken place serves as a metaphor for the long history of black people’s autonomy being stripped. Slaveowners took advantage of their slaves’ bodies, utilizing them for physical labor; the sunken place is a more literal representation, with rich white people physically taking over the bodies of black individuals. No one can hear the victims struggle, and their voices are silenced as they sadly have been throughout history. ]]> 2022-11-29 03:42:06 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401285352 23chapmanl https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401390764 The Armitage family demonstrates to Chris that they are not racist through multiple efforts. I can distinctly remember Dean taking Chris for a walk: his aim to ease Chris and provide him comfort as the Armitage's guest. Dean attempts, effectively, to do so by acknowledging the discomfort Chris feels as the only two other black people in the home are servants to the white family. Had Dean not confronted such a perception upfront, that the family exclusively hired black individuals for their labor, Chris may have become suspicious of the family sooner. An additional attempt at convincing Chris that they were not racist came in the form of an appreciation of black people. On the tour of the house, Dean points out that his grandfather raced against Jesse Owens, an African American, in the 1936 Olympic Games. The defeat of the white Armitage ancestor demanded that the world wake up from its illusion of white supremacy. Black people, as Dean explained, should be appreciated and celebrated for their superior athletic abilities. These sentiments are also demonstrated by Jeremy, who is fascinated by Chris's genetic make-up and physical capabilities. Peele seems to be twisting this anti-racism facade into a fetishization of black people and their culture. The movie demonstrates the potential for the exploitation of black individuals once the non-racist attitude of the Armitage's toward African Americans becomes an obsession. ]]> 2022-11-29 05:44:02 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401390764 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401409029 I thought Peele's use of foreshadowing was brilliant throughout the entire film. Many lines from the Armitage's don't seem to have any relevance when they first say them, but after learning what the twist is I've realized that it was right in front of the audience the entire time- even subtly. For example, Dean reveals when Chris first arrives that his father lost to Jesse Owens. This would explain why the gardener ran so much throughout the movie- he was the grandfather who wanted a body like Jesse Owens' so he could get even faster. Also, Dean states that he sealed off the basement due to "black mold." While this does seem suspicious due to classic horror movie basement cliches, this has a much darker meaning since the bodies of Black people are literally used as molds for the brains of their wealthy white friends. These are perfect examples of Chekov's gun since seemingly irrelevant plot points came back later as a major twist in the film. They also effectively convey menace while still maintaining the mystery since the viewer gradually becomes more and more suspicious of the Armitages without knowing exactly why until the twist is revealed. ]]> 2022-11-29 06:04:56 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401409029 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401410423 This movie was absolutely crazy. I came into class with basically no knowledge of what the movie was like or how it would turn out. I only knew that it was a thriller film that deals with themes of race. Personally, I felt like this movie was one of those where everything is normal until it just isn't anymore. Even when Chris and Rose hit a deer on their way to the Armitage's house and all the black people there were acting super weird, it still felt pretty normal for some odd reason. I knew all those events were meant to be a signal of bad omen coming and that the Armitage's were really suspicious, but I just couldn't wrap my head around what exactly was wrong. It wasn't until the bidding scene that I finally went "oh snap." I think that scene was truly incredible. Through the silence and only the sound of music playing, we finally realize the "real impending doom." This scene almost even felt like a betrayal to Chris. Even though they had just met, the only white guy that Chris felt comfortable with at the event was now bidding money for his life. But even with all the gruesome and bloody stuff that happened, I still find Rose's mom to be the scariest character. On the outside she just looks like a meek and kind white woman who is slightly racist, but she is the one who truly holds the most power. I think being hypnotized, mentally abused to relive your worst memory, and unable to control your own body in times of danger is no less scary than being murdered. I'm not one for gruesome scenes, but seeing Chris get back at the Armitage's was relieving and made me happy he could get revenge (I was even hoping that Chris would finish off Rose) which shows how invested this movie could make a person.]]> 2022-11-29 06:06:22 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401410423 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401423567 The main thing that I kept coming back to throughout the movie is how normal most of the beginning of the movie seems to be. As the audience, we have the knowledge that something is going to go wrong because we sat down to watch a horror/thriller movie, not a pleasant day-in-the-life piece, but at the outset, everything seems idyllic. On the surface, the Armitages look like the classic American family: mother, father, daughter, son, but they have two black servants and are weirdly casual about the racist things they say and do. I really liked the contrast between the humorous elements of Rod's character and the tense and aggressive atmosphere in and around the Armitage's home. The dynamic between Rod and Chris is amazing and their friendship honestly felt kind of grounding throughout all the wild stuff the Armitages and their group do. 
Another thing that stood out to me was the scene with Georgina and Chris upstairs in the bedroom. Knowing that she is not in control of her body makes the moment where the grandmother and Georgina seem to fight for control all the more interesting. We never see Andre or Walter fight the men inside them as Georgina does with the grandmother, only after a flash of light are they able to return to their bodies. I wonder if this is because the grandmother is weaker than the other two inhabitants or if Georgina has figured out some way out of the sunken place to effectively try to regain control. ]]> 2022-11-29 06:20:52 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401423567 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401456361 I'm not exactly sure what qualifies as the "end" of Get Out, but I thought the last 20 or so minutes of the film, from the time when Chris first watches the TV explanation of what is going on, onwards, is simply brilliant. The first thing that struck me was the use of the character Jim Hudson (the blind art curator). This is a character who is physically blind, in the most tangible interpretation of blindness, and yet, even though he can’t see and therefore can’t see skin color and race, he is revealed to be one of the most racist characters (I also feel like we could draw some comparison’s between Jim Hudson and Hoichi but I’m not entirely sure). When Hudson says to Chris “I want your eye man” I think he’s referring to more than just Chris’ physical eye. Hudson also wants to be able to speak on behalf, both literally and through his photography/art, of the black experience. This desire for control is more inconspicuous but just as harmful as blatant racism. I also couldn’t help but think of the connections between this brain procedure that the Armitages conduct and the historical tradition of blackface. Not that they are the same at all, but both are instances of white individuals “dressing up” or pretending to be black individuals for an alternate purpose. ]]> 2022-11-29 06:55:29 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401456361 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401482121 Race is made apparent in the first five minutes of the film. In the first interaction we see between Chris and Rose, Chris expresses his discomfort going to her white family, but Rose makes sure to assure him that her family does not care what race he is (they would have voted for Obama a 3rd time). In situations such as this or the stance that Rose takes for Chris when pulled over is one of Jordan Peele's brilliant tactics of building up the suspense and surprise factor. Personally, although I slightly suspected that something was off with the Armitages, I did not suspect the fact that Rose was a part of this movement as well. The moment in which Chris finds the photos of Rose with Georgina and Walter particularly struck me since I believed that Rose had truly loved Chris for who he was. Because the viewers thought that we could trust Rose and her ability to separate race from love, the plot twist is intensified. I found the black workers within the Armitage estate to be more suspicious than the family themselves, as Chris was more surprised by their actions than the blatant racism shown by the family. 

]]> 2022-11-29 07:24:31 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401482121 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401497840 I found the ending to be somewhat satisfying. I think the end scene with Rose and Walter was incredibly smart. Chris was able to recall his encounter with Andre, when he photographed him and took him out of the trans, and implemented it when Walter was running towards him. Rose didn't know this would work, and in turn had no idea that Walter was going to shoot her. I felt that part to be extremely satisfying, however, I feel bad for Walter, and in turn Georgina, because he killed himself after shooting Rose because of the abuse he endured in the household. I found it heartbreaking, but necessary to show how big of an affect the Armitages had on the people they had hypnotized. I felt that it was satisfying that Chris was able to escape and return to his life, but I still feel that there are some unanswered questions. Did Chris ever come back to free all the others such as Andre who were taken to the "sunken place?" I felt that a bit more closure with what happened to the others would have been better. However, when looking through Chris's perspective, I found the ending to be enjoyable and brilliant. ]]> 2022-11-29 07:41:00 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2401497840 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2402446949 This movie gave me many perspectives I didn't have before. Even now, people are afraid of getting hurt, whether that be physical and/or mental, and that is shown throughout this entire movie. At the beginning of the movie, Chris is afraid that he is going to end up getting mentally hurt because Rose said that she hadn't told her parents that he was black and that they would not like him because of it. Feeling a sense of betrayal is probably what hits the most though. When Chris saw that there were black people at the family function as well, he made it a point to introduce himself just so that he could feel some comfort in his own skin and to know that he has a 'brother' here with him. When they replied in a weird way, I felt as if Chris thought he was betrayed or that what he had been put through as a kid was not normal, considering that his 'brothers' thought that nothing was wrong. Coming off of learning from when he was a kid, he was confused and had no idea how or why his mother died and when Rose's mother hypnotized him to make him think about the past, he must've felt a sense of betrayal. A sense of betrayal because it was someone he love's mother who made him think about something that he obviously didn't want to say. He felt disrespected, which is mentally draining. Nearing the end of the movie, I felt satisfied because since he was betrayed, he wanted to prove that they were no stronger or smarter than he was. ]]> 2022-11-29 19:04:21 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2402446949 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2402491423 I thought that the ending was only temporarily satisfying. Although it was gratifying to be able to watch Chris take revenge on the people who had wronged him, and to eventually escape with Rod, the police car fakeout made me question the legal implications of Chris's actions. Because Chris burned the house down, there would be no proof of the Coagula organization's systematic kidnappings and forced procedures. Because it was well established to police that Chris was visiting the Armitage family with Rose when Rod went to report Chris missing, he would be the number one suspect when the police inevitably investigate the murder of the entire family. Chris would realistically end up in prison for life, so although he was able to escape from the sunken place, a prison in his own subconcious, and prevent Coagula from pursuing any further operations, he will end up in actual prison. I thought that this however, was a powerful message about judicial prejudice against black Americans, who, are often levied with wrongful imprisonment by law enforcement.]]> 2022-11-29 19:34:46 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2402491423 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2402578932 Even though this is not the first time I've seen the movie, it is just as good as the first time. The way that Jordan Peele subtly drops meaning into small actions is done beautifully. For example, after the big reveal we see Rose eating cereal with milk. However, instead of putting the milk with the cereal she separates the "colored" cereal with the "white milk". This small detail just adds to Rose's severe racism in keeping the difference of white and black people. It pointed about white privilege and power and the inequities it creates, but not just on a broad societal level. It also highlights the environment even in situations as small as social gatherings and casual conversations and the racial insensitivity that still many people are unaware of. I liked how it also showed how people view black people as another species and how it may seem like a complement but it really isn't. The topic of black people's physical ability and how it seems as though they are gifted but the Armitidge's believe that it's unfair in a way and that if they had a white person's mind they would be unstoppable. I also really liked how this movie switched the stereotypical roles that a black person would play in a horror movie. Unfortunately, most of the time we don't see black people as the main character or even survive for very long. They are always seen as solely  comic relief and a person to die to move the plot. In Get Out we are given  the complete opposite which is very refreshing to see instead of always seeing a white person as the main character and survivor. This whole movie also highlights how many people change their appearance to also appear darker while completely ignoring the inequalities that black people face that comes with their skin color. ]]> 2022-11-29 20:53:41 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2402578932 https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2402924000 Overall, I thought the movie was a very well-put-together story that was able to weave in many tropes and themes prevalent in society. Most interestingly, I was fascinated by how every plot point provides a deeper symbolism and meaning to the true horror of the Armitage family. From the very beginning, Jordan Peele sets up this dynamic between Chris and Rose. This quickly shifts from a more passive and non-confrontal choice from Chris to as we all know, his heroic ending. Every interaction leading up to the climax shows a glimpse of the hidden truth, and looking back I was able to put together the clues to see the family's motives all along. Some of the questions I have include why the flash photography triggered a response from both the grandpa and a friend of Chris. It further showed the trauma they had suffered as their reactions were telling Chris to "get out" while he could or taking one's own life. My second question was how in-depth this process was, and for how long Jim Hudson had followed Chris's work, to the best of his ability, knowing he would eventually bid for him. Every plot point proved to be pivotal and have a deeper meaning to be explored.]]> 2022-11-30 03:05:27 UTC https://padlet.com/tobrien28/5ofmeasd88se5goy/wish/2402924000